Lasting machines



Feb. 16, 1965 o. c. BRETT. JR

LAsTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1963 Feb. 16, 1965 o. c. BRETT, .JR

LASTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 O. C. BRETT, JR

LASTING MACHINES Feb. 16, 1965 Filed Aug. 21, 1963 Feb. 16, 1965 Filed Aug. 21, 1963 O. C. BRETT, JR

LASTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O 3,169,26ii IASIENG MACHNES @iiver C. Brett, r., Benford, Mass., assigner to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, lvass., a corporation ot New .iersey l Fiied Aug. ZI, i953, Ser. No. 303;,33 7 Claims. (Cl. i2-12A) This invention relates generally to machines for lasting shoes and more particularly is directed to the lasting oi the forepart portion of an infants shoe. In its general organization the machine embodying the invention is similai` to that shown in United States Letters Patent No. 3,022,527, granted February 27, 1962. In some respects the present invention provides improvements to that earlier machine but it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular organization shown.

It has been found that to obtain optimum lasting results on the forepart regions of a shoe bottom that the wipers adapted to engage the upper in this region must be accurately located so as to elect competent wiping at all points along opposite sides ofthe forepart ofthe shoe. Machines previously available for this operation have disposed the wipers for equal movements from positions equally spaced from the centerline of the machine. However, due to the squareness of the forepart of infants shoes, and particularly of the inboard side, inadequate wiping usually occurs on that side. Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide simple means for moving one forepart wiper more than the other during the wiping operation. To this end individual air cylinders have been provided for each wiper carrier to impart an additional wiping movement selectively to either of the wipers after completion of the normal wiper movements.

To obtain optimum lasting results, machines adapted to operate on the forepart are provided with a pair of forepart wipers which present a substantially continuous wiping surface engageable with the shoe bottom. Both forepart wipers travel the same distance in closing and performing the wiping operation. In operating on shoes of the usual sizes and shapes such movement affords substantially adequate wiping along all points on opposite sides of the forepart of the shoe. However, the smaller sizes of childrens shoes present an unusually square forepart to the machine. One side of the forepart is generally of a more square-like configuration than the other. For example, on an infants right shoe, it will be found that the left side of the forepart is substantially different from the right side in that the left side is more square-like. The inner contour of the left forepart wiper is essentially the same as the contour of the shoe. Operating upon such a shoe, the left forepart wiper, because of its inner contour, fails to effect a sufiicient wiping operation at all points on the left side of the forepart. Usually, the inadequate wiping on this side is compensated for by hand work after the shoe is removed from the machine. According to a feature of this invention, individual air cylinders are connected with the wiper carriers which have been adapted to cooperate with the air cylinder so as to impart an additional wiping movement to one or the other of the forepart wipers after both wipers have completed their normal closing movements.

The above and other features of the invention, including novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. l is a vertical section on a plane extending fore and aft of an illustrative machine embodying the present invention and showing the principal operating instrumentalities;

rice

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine, partly in section and showing the wiper operating mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a plan View similar to FIG. 2 showing an infants shoe in position to be operated upon by the machine and showing the positions of various parts after normai operation of the wiping instrumentalities;

FIG. 4 is a plan View similar to FIG. 3 showing the positions of various parts after operation of the extended wiping instrumentalities; and

FiG. 5 is a diagram of a pressure fluid system for controlling the operation of the wipers according to the present invention.

The invention is embodied in a machine for lasting shoes of which a typical example thereof is disclosed in said patent. As illustrated, the machine is provided with a shoe support 2 (FIGS. l and 2) which supports the orepart of a shoe comprising an upper and an insole assembled on a last. The machine is also provided with gripper units 4 (FIG. 2) arranged to grip the upper at opposite sides of the forepart of the last. Relative heightwise movement between the grippers and the shoe support acts to tension the upper for shaping about the last. After tensioning the upper is clamped against the last by a toe pad 6 (FIG. l) and side clamps (notshown). At this time the bottom of the last with the insole assemled thereon is positioned in the same plane as a pair of forepart wipers it) which are advanced and closed to wipe the tensioned upper inwardly over the edge of the forepart of the insole. A heel rest 1l (FIG. l) which operates in a manner similar to that of the above-mentioned patent, provides support for the shoe against the wiper advancing and closing forces.

To position the shoe in the illustrative machine, the bottom of the shoe is placed on the shoe support 2 which at this time occupies a position below the plane of the wipers I0 (FIG. 1). The forepart of the shoe is positioned lengthwise relative to the forepart wipers by engagement of the toe end of the last with a toe distributor plate 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) while the lateral position of the last forepart is determined by a pair of side distributor plates 14 (FIG. 2). The toe and side distributor plates I2, i4 in addition to positioning the last in the machine also act to press the outspread upper against the underside of the wipers 10 during the relative movement of the wipers and shoe support to distribute the upper evenly for avoiding undesirable wrinkles. Since only the shoe positioning function of the distributor plates 12 and 14 is important to an understanding oi' the present invention, no further description of their operation will be given herein. It should be sufficient to note that other shoe positioning means could be substituted for the distributor plates without departing from the scope of the invention.

After the shoe is located in the machine, the margin of the upper is gripped by the gripper units 4, and the support 2 is moved heightwise causing the upper to be pulled and tensioned about the last. This action of the support also moves the shoe to a heightwise position where the bottom of the shoe is at or slightly above the plane of the forepart wipers liti. For this movement the support 2 is carried on the upper end of a post i6 (FIG. 1) which is mounted for heightwise movement in a bore 18 in a portion of the machine frame. The lower end of post I6 is fixed to a piston 2@ movable in a cylinder 22 against the action of a spring 24. The cylinder Z2 is secured to the machine frame and is provided at its lower end with a pipe 26 by which air is admitted to raise the piston 2@ and shoe support 2 as above mentioned. The mechanism for operating the shoe support forms no part of the present invention and it is contemplated that the invention would be equally applicable to other maclEs where relative heightwise movement between the shoe support and the Wipers would be accomplished in a cominactive positions.

pletely different manner or where no such relative movement would be required.

The orepart wipers liti are detachably secured in carriers 28, 28', each of which is provided Vwith a pair of rolls-3@ v(FIGS 2-4) received'- in cam slots 32, 34 formed in a cover plate 36 secured to an upper inclined portion ofthe machine frame. For advancing and closing the wipers normally to wipethe margin of the tensioned upper across the edge of the4 shoe bottom, the carriers 28, 28 are connected by links 33, 5h to the opposite ends of av bar 4@ secured to one end of a piston rod 42. The othery end of the rod 4Z is fixed-to a piston 44 (FIG. l) operative in a cylinder d6 fixed to the machine frame. Thus, by. admitting airrto the-cylinder 46 from a pipe d8, the forepart wipers lil are advanced lengthwise and closed widthwise against the action of a spring S@ in the cylinder.

Because ofthe extreme squareness of the forepart of infants shoes, the moving of the forepart wipers itl an equal distance has proven unsatisfactory. Accordingly, provision is made to impart additional wiping movement selectively to one wiper or the other after completion of the normal wiper closing movements caused by operation of the cylinder and piston dd, 46. To this end the links 33, 33 are provided with slots 52, 52 in which ride Vpins 54, 54 carried by the bard/ti; Springs 56, 56' urge the bar 49 and the links 3%, S toward each other, thereby urging the pins 5,4, 5d against the forward-most ends of slots 52, 52', i.e., the ends closer to the shoe. After the forepart wipers lil have been moved forward and inwardby movement of the piston 44 to the position shown in FIG. 3, additional movement of either wiper may beY imparted by one pair of levers 58, S8 acting upon shoulders et?, eti provided on the carriers 23, 2S (FIG. 4). Levers 58, 5S' are fulcrumed about points 66, 66 and at their outer ends are connected by rods 62, 62 to pistons 65, 68' (FIG. 2) movable in double-acting cylinders 7i), 769'. The cylindersi, 7d at their rearward ends are secured to the machine frame and are provided with pipes 7l, t and 72, 72 (FIG. 2) by which air is admitted to move the piston o8 or 68' rearwardly to further close one forepart wiper it) as seen in FIG. 4, or forwardly so as to return lever 58 or 58* to the disengaged position as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The machine operator conditions the machinefor operation on infants shoes by setting a selector valve 8i? (FIG. 5) from an off position to either a .left or righ setting, depending upon whether left or right shoes are to be lasted. The operator then depresses a treadle (not shown) which actuates a solenoid valve 82. Actuation ofthe valve 82 connects pipes 7l, '71 leading from the cylinders 70, 79 to an exhaust line E.V At this point there is no pressure acting upon the pistons 68, 68', from pipes 72, 72' so that the pistons 6?, 68' remain in their nects a main pressure line L to a main air valve 86 which is closed at this time. y

Depression of the treadle also causes the machine to proceed with its normal operating cycle which thus far has not been aiected'by the above proceedings. Just prior yto completion of the normal travel of the orepart wipers it), a leaf spring 8S carried by one end of the crossbar 4i) (FIGS. 2-4) engages a pilot valve 9d. The pilot valve 96 is shown in FIG. 2 at the start of the. normal wiper movement and prior to being acted upon by the leaf spring S8 while FIGS. 3V and 4 show the leaf spring SS in contact with the pilot valve 9i) after such wiper move- CFI Actuation of the valve S2 also conhas been previously set to process a right shoe, air is permitted to proceed to a pressure regulator 92. Ifthe selector valve d@ had been set for a left shoe, the ow of air would have continued on to a pressure regulator 92'.

Vrhe air then passes through a restricting valve 94 which permits unrestricted ow through a bypass 93, through the pipe 72 (FIGS. 2 and 5) into the forward end of the cylinder 7i?. Coming from the pipe 72 the air Vexerts a pressure on the piston 68 (FIG.2) driving it toward the opposite end of the cylinder 7i), exhausting air from the pipe 7l.

'As the piston 68V is moved rearwardly it causes the lever Sisto be pivoted about the point 66 urging the inner end of the lever 58 against the shoulder 60 of the carrier 28, which is accordingly forced into extended movement against the influence of the springv 56, and effects an extended wipe on that side of the shoe, the extent of which is limited by the-pin 54 abutting the end of slot 52.

The extended wipe position of the wiper is held for a period determined by a pre-set electrical timer 96 (FIG.

5) which act upon the solenoidvalve 82. rThe valve 821V is automatically shifted by the timerV at the end of said. period sorthat air from the main air line L is carried through the restricting valve 34 via a by-pass 83 in an unrestricted manner, and through the pipe 71 into the cylinder 79. The piston 6% is urged to move forwardly while air is now exhausted from the forward end of theY cylinder 70 through the pipe 72 and through restricting' f valve 94, which brakes the piston movement, through the.

pressure regulator by-pass 91, through the selector valve si?, through'themain air YVvalve 86, backk through the solenoid valve S2 and intorthe exhaust line E. As the piston 63 moves forward, it causes the rodV 62 to move forward and pivots the lever SSLabout the point 66, its outer end moving forwardly and its inner end rearwardly. As the inner end of the lever 58 moves rearwardly, the springs 5&5 urges the carrier 23 and its attached Wiper llt! back into their initial positions. The extended wipe system is then at rest until the operator again actuates the treadle, thereby shifting the solenoid valve 82 into position foranother cycle. Y i

In order to shut down the present overwipe system, it is only necessary to set the valve 80 in the Loif position. The solenoid valve S2 can be a part of machines normal control circuit. Its operation, after the extended wipe system is secured, can only admit air as far as the valve d@ Von the activating side of the` circuit. The air can enter the cylinders 79,70 through lines 71, 7l but in such instance the pistons 68, d8 are merely urged to their inactive positions.

In addition to the obvious advantages of the present invention in the baby shoe field, it has proven useful in the lasting of some adult shoes having particularly foreparts offsquare or otherwise extraordinary configura-4 tion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by LettersrPatent of the United ment. The location of the pilot valveV @di in the control States is:

. 1. In a shoe lasting machine having a pair of forepart wipers, means for imparting normal equal movements. to said wipersto wipe themarginof an upper inwardly over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, means for selectively extending the movement of either of said forepart wipersV after completion of the normal movements ofl both forepart wipers, said extending means comprising control means responsive ,to the normal movement of said forepart wipers, and drivek means for each Wiper responsive to said control means.l

V2. The invention, accordingto claim drivev meansr is a pneumatic drive means.

3. The invention according to claim 2v wherein .said control means, comprisesa pilot valve, a main air-valve operableV by said pilot valve, anda selector valve for 1 wherein said either of said drive means.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said pneumatic drive means comprises a pneumatic cylinder for each orepart wiper, means connecting said cylinders to said selector valve to receive the flow of air from said selector valve, a piston in each cylinder and linkage means for transmitting motion from said pistons to said wipers.

5. In a shoe lasting machine having a pair of forepart wipers arranged for normal equal movements to wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom of the orepart of a shoe; means for extending the movement of a selected one of said forepart wipers after completion of the normal movements of both forepart wipers, said means comprising an air valve actuated in response to the normal movement of the forepart wipers, a hand operated selector valve for directing the ow of air from said air valve, pneumatic drive means comprising two air cylinders and pistons adapted alternatively to be operated by the ow of air from said selector valve, linkage means for transmitting motion from said pistons to said forepart wipers, and mechanical means for limiting the extended travel of the forepart wipers acted upon by said linkage` 6. In a machine for lasting shoes, forepart wipers normally movable to Wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom of the forepart of a Shoe, means for extending the movement of one forepart wiper after completion of the normal movements of both forepart wipers, said means comprising control means responsive to the normal movement of forepart wipers, and drive means responsive to said control means and adapted to extend the movement of said one wiper.

7. In a machine for lasting shoes, a pair of forepart Wipers movable to wipe the margin of an upper inwardly over the bottom of the forepart of a shoe, for-epart wiper carriers to which are attached said wipers, said carriers having shoulders on their outboard edges, bar and link means for moving said carriers simultaneously, a pilot valve opened by the movement of said bar and link means, a main air valve operable by said pivot valve, a hand operated selector valve for directing the ow of air from said main air valve, an air cylinder for each forepart wiper adapted to receive air from the selector valve, a piston and rod disposed in said cylinder and movable by the entry of air into said cylinder, a lever attached to said rod and engageable with said shoulder of a forepart wiper carrier for urging said wiper carrier and its attached forepart wiper into an extended wiping movement, mechanical means for limiting the extended movement of said forepart Wiper, an automatic timer, and means controlled by said timer for reversing the movement of said piston in said cylinder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,131,847 Roberts Oct. 4, 1938 2,955,302 Schoenmakers Oct. 1l, 1960 3,022,527 Rockwell et al Feb. 27, 1962 

1. IN A SHOE LASTING MACHINE HAVING A PAIR OF FOREPART WIPERS, MEANS FOR IMPARTING NORMAL EQUAL MOVEMENTS TO SAID WIPERS TO WIPE THE MARGIN OF AN UPPER INWARDLY OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE FOREPART OF A SHOE, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY EXTENDING THE MOVEMENT OF EITHER OF SAID FOREPART WIPERS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE NORMAL MOVEMENTS OF BOTH FOREPART WIPERS, SAID EXTENDING MEANS COMPRISING CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE NORMAL MOVEMENT OF SAID FOREPART WIPERS, AND DRIVE MEANS FOR EACH WIPER RESPONSIVE TO SAID CONTROL MEANS. 